I’m telling you, sample sales are moving online. Rue La La is another new one that Tiff from TSF send to me.

Rue La La is… an exclusive, invitation-only online destination where Members discover premier-brand, private sale Boutiques, each open for just a brief window of time.

We hope to bring our Members a welcoming shopping experience full of discovery and pleasure. Our focus is a well-edited collection of sought-after offerings from the best brand names in the world — combined with helpful service.

Membership is free. It’s also invitation-only.

The sales are 2 days long and they include some heavy names like Fendi and Balenciaga. As with them all, leave a comment with your real email address and I will invite you.

Amy from I love Sample Sales emailed me to let me know about their online sample sale store. I Love Sample Sales Online is currently offering Diesel jeans for women. You can use the coupon code “geekigirl” and receive $5 dollars off your order.

Diesel Jeans Sale on for a limited time! I Love Sample Sales Online presents Diesel Jeans for Women. We have a variety of sizes and styles in stock for you to choose from all on sale at 60-75% off retail prices. The Diesel sample sale will be on for a limited time - so choose your favorite pair before we’re all sold out. We recommend the following styles: Bebel 70Z, Ryoth 8AB, Ronhar 81M, and Matic 88D.

When it rains it pours with online sample sales. I’ve discovered the Gilt Groupe. They have some really good deals on designer merchandise. For example, there is an Allegra Hicks sale till 11pm EST January 31, 2008. Some of the price discounts are very steep, I’m talking $1500 dresses for $300. Vivianne Tam and Links of London are coming in February.

Sales are short on this site and usually lasts up to 36 hours. Sizing is from 2 - 10.

If you would like a referral to this service, please leave a comment using a valid email address. I will then send you an invite.

UPDATE: Hi Canadian friends. I didn’t do very good research with this site. They don’t deliver to Canada at this moment but are hoping to get something together in the Spring. Thanks to Tiff from Toronto Street Fashion for informing me of this.

I talked about Glamlist, North America’s first private shopping club in November. I have used the service and ordered a comfy Kitchen Orange sweater. I’ve been lazy and I don’t have a picture of it yet, but I’ve received a lot of complements on it.

In January, the Glamlist site had an overhaul and now it’s much easier to navigate and use. Currently there are a few sales on right now including Baila, Pudding Jeans and Ponyride who makes this really cute sweater.

How to join Glamlist?
It doesn’t cost anything to sign up, membership is free. You just need someone to refer you and guess what, I’ll do that.
All you have to do is register at Glamlist.com and use geekigirl@gmail.com in the trusted member’s email field in the registration form.

Since reporting on Glamlist, a few other private shopping sites have popped up; HauteLook.com (who is having a Habitual Denim sale until Jan. 24, 2008) and ideeli.com Shipping is a little expensive for HauteLook but I’ve seen some great American brands on the sale. I want - I got readers can sign up to HauteLook using geekigirl@gmail.com in the “EMAIL OF YOUR SPONSOR” field on the signup page.

I’m having a hard time understanding Ideeli.com. I haven’t really pursued the site so that’s probably the reason. To get a shot at any of the good stuff you have to pay. Your cellphone is involved and a monthly fee is charged through to your cellphone service. If you are interested in signing up, leave a comment using your real email address and I’ll send you an invite. Rest assured your email will not be displayed publicly.

CHANGE Lingerie offers Valentine’s Day Prep-Parties

I personally hate Valentine’s Day, single or not, but I know some of you might be interested in this.

What: CHANGE in Toronto is offering Girls-Night-Out Valentine’s Day Prep-Parties to women who want to unleash a romantic, surprise attack on a love partner. CHANGE is inviting women in love (and women looking for love!) to book a night of gal pal fun at its Toronto lingerie boutique. Who better than your friends to help you formulate a sexy plan of attack on Valentine’s Day?

Interested women can schedule private parties at CHANGE, Toronto’s newest and freshest lingerie boutique on Queen Street West. In addition to the ultimate in personalized service, parties feature scrumptious cupcakes and sparkling champagne.

Party organizers will receive a $100 gift card in appreciation.

When: Private parties can be organized in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day by contacting CHANGE store manager, Lisa Bernstein at 416.977.7667 for more details. Private Parties are also available year round for a twist on the Bachelorette or birthday parties – or just as a fun excuse to get the girls together.

Who: CHANGE professionally-trained staff will be available throughout the party to provide expert bra fittings and share lingerie trends for 2008. The staff will also give practical advice on the do’s & don’ts of bra shopping.

Where: CHANGE – 315 Queen Street West, near John Street, in downtown Toronto.

Jessica from Gigantic! Productions emailed me about a casting for an MTV program. They are based in New York but I hope they are considering Canadians too.

True Life: I’m Addicted to Shopping

Studies estimate that as many as 17 million Americans are addicted to shopping. Is your closet packed with never-worn clothing, the price tags still in tact? Do you always have to run out and get the latest jeans or the newest accessories featured in Vogue? Are you maxing out your credit cards and drowning in bills? Are your friends and family concerned about your shopping addiction?

If you can’t control the urge to shop, even at the expense of your job, your relationships or your finances, MTV and Gigantic! Productions want to hear about it.

MTV’s True Life is a long-running, award-winning documentary series where young people share their stories in their own words. We hope that, by allowing people to tell their stories and communicate directly with their peers, we can impact the way people interact and engage with the world they live in.

If you appear to be between the ages of 16-25, and would like to share your story, please email us at casting@gigantic.tv and be sure to include your name, location, phone number and a photo.

Since 2001, Gigantic! Productions, a New York City-based production company, has been producing hard-hitting, award-winning documentary programming for networks such as MTV and CMT. Please visit our website: www.gigantic.tv to find out more.

Update: I just found out that this is only for US residents only.

Win Free Tickets to The Wedding Show from ChickAdvisor

For my readers in Toronto. You have until Tuesday, Jan 8th to enter.

Win 4 FREE TICKETS!
The Wedding Show is giving away 2 pairs of tickets to ChickAdvisor members right now! All you have to do to enter is tell us your proposal story. How did he pop the question? Was it a complete surprise or did you see it coming from a mile away? Email us your story at info@chickadvisor.com or share it in our forums this week.

You don’t have to be a ChickAdvisor member to enter. What is Chick Advisor you ask?

“I LOVE your bag! Where’d you get that?”
“Your hair looks fantastic! Where do you go?”

Nothing beats a good recommendation, and that’s what ChickAdvisor is all about!

Get valuable advice and recommendations from other women on everything from highlights, to health clubs, to the latest fashion finds, trends and sample sales. Then click through to buy your favorite products online!

Be heard! Add your own reviews on your favorite products and services. Simply click Add a Review to get started.
And, don’t forget to check out our deals and forums!

Canadian Beauty: Moor Allure Naturals - Holiday Giveaway!

Henna at Canadian Beauty is giving away Moor Allure Naturals Skin Kits. You just have to make a comment on her site telling her your favourite beauty product of the year.

Contest ends on Thursday, December 13th, 2007 so enter before then! 5 winners will be chosen at random.

EDIT: For those that can’t or choose not to read carefully. ENTER ON CANADIAN BEAUTY. This is her contest not mine. I’m just plugging it.

The nice people from Harper Collins Canada send me the Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia to review. I gladly accepted as I love free books, and she gave me something to blog about. Nina Garcia is the Fashion Director at Elle Magazine and is one of the judges on Project Runway.

The first thing I noticed about the book is the fantastic illustrations by Ruben Toledo. They make the book worth buying alone. The book has a well rounded focus and adds some historical context that is normally found in other offerings of the same genre. I’ll give you a little breakdown of each chapter

1. Be Your Own Muse - basic intro to the book basically telling people that how you present yourself is important, blah, blah

2. The Basics - Great list of items that should be in everyones closet. The items that are the basis of a great wardrobe. It emphasizes wearing what is looks good on you, buying your size and purging your closet.

3. Inspirations - Describes the influences of the following areas: Film, Music, Travel and Art on fashion and the major players

4. What to Wear When - I found this section particularly funny, but I guess some people need guidance. Some of the funny guides included: How to dress on a plane, How to dress for a summer weekend and how to dress for winter.

5. Insider Tips and Tricks - Here Nina has picked the brain some of major players in fashion.

6. Fashion Cliff’s notes, decade by decade - great reference to fashion trends and major designers for each decade.

I’ve read a few style book and I really like this one because it’s not done in a bubble. Historical references and trends need to be considered and many style books avoid this topic.

The Eaton Center is doing a promotion, if you buy $200 of merchandise from any fashion retailers you will receive a copy of the book for free. Little black book of style promotion information

I want - I got reader Malou wrote to tell me about her online store Bamboo Closet. The store features handmade products by independent designers from the Philippines and the rest of Asia. Created in October 2006, Malou with her partners Isa and Joanna have created a company with a mission to “empower the artisans and their communities by developing a sustainable business capacity to compete in the global marketplace.” They also promote “social consumerism” by educating buyers to the origins of the items they purchase.

I particularly liked the handbags the site has to offer.
Bombshell Wristlet bag

Katol Tote

In addition to handbags, the store carries a variety of handmade items like jewelery, pet accessories, home decor, art and clothing. Bamboo Closet has graciously offered I want - I got readers a 10% discount on all items. Please use the discount code IWG202710 at checkout. This offer will expire on April 1, 2007.

images: BambooCloset.com